As Premier, Kim Yong-il was the head of government in the DPRK, which means he appointed ministers and vice-premiers, who were confirmed by the SPA, and he was also responsible for economic and domestic policy.[5] Premier Kim’s first major speech at the anniversary of the state’s founding largely reinforced state ideology. However, on the economy, he carefully balanced demands for heavy industry with consumer goods, light industry, and agriculture: "We will firmly adhere to the socialist economic construction line of the military-first era and while developing the national defense industry first, we will vigorously ignite the flames of the agricultural revolution and the light industry revolution, thus the food problem and the issue of the people’s consumer goods should be smoothly resolved".[6]

This Kim Yong-il should not be confused with another Kim Yong-il (1955–2000?), the son of the late Kim Il-sung and half-brother of Kim Jong-il, who is said to have died in Germany in 2000.[7]